davis



y 2, 1929. G. w. DAVIS v CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE w R a my WM M e ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 600/30 Mffiawa M0 ATTORNEY G. W. DAVIS CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1927 July 2, 1929.

y 2, 1929. G. w. DAVIS \GENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 192'? 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR fiear e Mfiawa Patented July 2', 1929.

GEORGE Vi; DAVIS, OF SEATTLE WASHINGTOIX YGENTBIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE,

' The object of my invention is the perfecting of centrifugal casting machines to 'facilitate the' op erations. thereof for a 'bet ter character of work than hitherto.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear in description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of 10 parts hereinafter described and claimed.

'j In'the accompanying drawings,

" Figure' l is a view partly in side elevation and. partly in longitudinal vertical section of a centrifugal "casting machine embodying 15fthe present invention- Fig. 2 is a transverse section online'2-2 of Fig. 1, includ ing' the moldand a casting notl'shown in .Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation showing an end of'the rotary cylinder, the

dctachable head therefor and the complementary clutch members illustrated, in disengaged relation, parts of the cylinder and an end member therefor being broken away. Fig, 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of the cylindelga clamping hoop therefor, a portion of the machine frame, and a top roller shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a fatgmentary detail sectional View on line 5 5 of Fig. 1} and Fig. 6 is a sectional view. on line. 6+6 of Fig. .1.

In said drawings, the reference numeral .10 represents, generally, a tuhular member hereinafter designated as the cylinder formed ofv two complementary semi-circular segments 10 and 10 Each of said segments is composed of a frame consisting" of longitudinal bar elements 11 and 12 rigid with and extending between are'uate end flangeelements 13, 14, and intermediate'arcuate flange elements 15; and panels 16 for I closing the openings between the respective bar and flange elements. The panels 16' are of'a circular arcuate shape in transverse section and are provided along .their. longitudinal edges with flanges 16 through-which I extend bolts 17. fm detachably securing the panels to the respective bar elements of a cylinder segment.- V g The bars 11 of one segment are arranged to seat against thecorresponding bars of the other segment ata parting line18 in a plane extending"diametrically through the cylinder. The bars 11 at one side ofthecylinder are each provided with an offset portion 18 to provide in eacha recess, the recesses of both frames registerlng with each other to the following means of locking pins 25 (Fig.

.above and below the cylinder.

Application filed September 29, 19 27. Seria1 No. 222,752.

provide doorway 19 located at orabout the midlength .of the cylinder." The side bars ll'of both SQglIlGIltSXtGDCl inwardly, as

inder heads'22 and 22 for the end flanges and in tapering holes of hoops 23 for the intermediate flange elements of both cylinder segments 10 and 10 'The tapering in- .terfitting connections of said heads and hoops with the frames of the cylinder segments serve to clamp said'segments together asaunit'.

' The heads 22 and 212 are detachably se cured, to the cylinder by any suitable means, that shown belng hooks Qlcarried by the respective heads latching'over the adjacent flanges 18 ,a'nd 14. To prevent the ac'ci dental unlatching of said hooks the same may be secured in engaged relation as by 3) engaging in lugs,- as 26, provided therefor on the heads. 22 in Fig. 3 represents a dowel pin .or the-likefor'engaging the head 22 to thc cylinder frame against independent rotary v movement.

The hoops 28 aredctachably held in segment coupling relation by forming the outer periphery of each hoop of a \Lshapc in transverse section and engaging the same in circumferentially grooved rollers 27 and 28 p The lower rollers, two for each hoop', .are rotatably mounted in chair eleinents 29 secured in suitv ablyj spaced apart relation transversely of theinachine upon a carriage SOarrangedfor movement transversely of the machine upon track ra ls 31;

'Z The carriagajthe chairsfand;rollers assembly constitutes a cradle upon'which the cylinder is rotatably' supported and is mov- Table transversely offthe machine into and out of operative position. ,Thecradle with its load Lismovablehy suitable means and preferably by hydraulic power through the medium of a cylinder 32 (Figs. 1 and 2') connected at 32? to a base .member 33 of the machine frame. and having its-connecting rod 34 connected to a lug element'35- of the carriage. The hydraulic cylinder 32iis supplied by water under pressure through suitable known devices not shown.

upper roller 27 pertaining to each hoop IS The mounted in a holder 36 connected to the machine'frame for limited vertical movement.

As shown, a holder 36 is provided with a stem 37 extending through a hole as 38 (Fig. 4) provided in the girder member 39 of the referred to frame, said stem being prevented from rotating by means of a spline 40 secured to the girder acting in a groove pro- 7 vided therefor in the respective stem.

' or door 43 which is connected by pivots 44:

(Fig. 5) to ends of links 45 whose other ends are connected by pivots such as 16 to. lugs4-7 of the frame part 18 of one of the cylinder segments to enable the door to be swung into or out of position to close the doorway. The door is secured in its closed .is closed.

position asby means of a locking bar 48 pivotally connected intermediate its length to the door and engageable with catches A8 provided upon the frame parts 18 Secured to the inner side of the door and ex- 'tending through an aperture provided in the mould 21 is a plug 19 (Fig. 5) of a refractory material which, in effect, constitutes a portion of the mold when broughtjintothe position .in which it-is shown when the door Thepurpose of thedoorway and the side opening in the mold 21 is to provide a port through which molten metal is poured into the mold or delivered thereinto through a removable trough or spout as indicated by dottedlines 50 in Fig. 5.

The cylinder is rotated by any suitable power operated means as, for example, the

armature shaft 51 of an electric motor 52.

Said shaft is journaled in a bearing 53 pro vided in an end member 54 ofthe machine frame. Rigid upon said shaft is'a brake drum 55 having a lined brake band 56which is operated by means of a pedal bar '57 (Fig. 6) having a counter weight58' tending to nected'by means of a rod 5 9 with a switch closing arm 60' ofthe circuit wires 61 for the motor. By thus connecting the brake controlling bar 57 by means'of the rod 59 "with the switch arm 60, the latter may be employed to move the bar 57 from its full line position (Fig. 6 into its dotted line position 57 to release the brake when the switch arm is swung into its dotted line'po-v sition 60 in completing the motor circuit.

Also when the pedal bar 57 is actuated by the operator to apply the brake, the

switch arm 60 is brought into its full. line position with a consequent break in the motor circuit. As shown in Fig. 6, the connection between the pedal bar and the rod 59 is attained by the provision of a stud 62 on the bar acting in an elongated slot 63 in the rod thereby affording lost motion permitting the switch of the motor circuit to be opened prior to the application of the brake.

v In starting the motor it is advantageous to I do so gradually as by the provision of a. rheostat, indicated by 64; in Fig. 1, an which is employed subsequently to the. closing of the switch.

Included in the invention is a means for releasably coupling the cylinder 10 to the drivingshaft 51 and also ameans to induce the flow of air axially through the cylinder to effect the cooling of the metal cast therein.

In said coupling, the cylinder. head 22 serves as a clutch member to cooperate with a second clutch member 65 which is'splined to said shaft. V

As shown in Fig. 3, such clutch members are provided upon their opposing ends with hook shaped teeth 66 and 67 arranged circumferentially, the points of therespeetive teeth being directed to mutually hold when rotated clock-wise. The end surfaces 66 and 67 of the respective teeth, howeveryare the clutch member on the'driving shaft is cylinder will cause the clutch teeth 67 of; the head 22 to be disengaged from the'te'eth 66 of the member 65, whereupon the inclined surfaces 66 and 67 of the respective teeth will act to push the member 65 axially away from the end 22 of the cylinder thereby per- I mitting the cylinder to be removed upon the cradle.

The clutch momber65 is 'nioved into cn gageable relation withthe'cylinder by means of shifting lever 69 acting throughthe medium of aring 7 0 provided in a peripheral. y

groove in a hub 71 of saidclutch member.

The metal-coolingair above referred to ing the diski73 with a centrally disposed head22, and providing fan blades 76 in the space between the disk elements 72 and 73.

is provided by forming the member65 of g V 'two spaced disk elements 72and 73, providmaintain the bar in its hand disengaging.

position. This bar 57 is desirably .connipple 74 to extend into the 'opening75 in the is ofsuitable refractory material, such as of sand, or fire clay, which isbuilt'up within the two segments 10 ,10 'ormay beimade -in ill ' inclined surfaces 13 and 14 respectively, of the cylinder frame. The cylinder is then placed upon the. carriage so that said coupling hoops engage in the grooves of the rollers 28 and thus supported upon the carriage 30 the latter is shifted into operative position in the machine frame, to be in axial alignment with the driving shaft 51 and in I engaged relation with the upper rollers-27.

The clutch'member 65 vis then shifted by means of lever- 69 into engageable relation with the cylinder end 22. A charge of moltenmetal is then deposited through the doorway 19 into the mold 21 flowing therein toward both ends of the cylinder. After the chargeis thus deposited and the door closed and fastened, the switch arm is moved into circuit closing position, where- "upon the operator by suitably regulating the rheostat 64 (Fig. 1) causes the motor and the cylinder which iscoupled thereto to be rotated at progressively increasing speed until the cylinder attains a speed most suitable for disposing the molten metal centrifugally against the inner peripheral surface of the mold 21 and of the-plug 49 to produce a pipe or therlilre as represented by W in Figs. 2 and 5. During such centrifugal casting and continuously until the detachment from the cylinder of the clutch member 65 (which contains the fan) an air current is drawn endwise through the work W to cool the same thereby expediting the solidifying and setting of the metal.

After the completion of the casting operation above described, the operator bears down with his foot the pedal bar 57 re sulting, first, in the switch arm 60 being brought into its open position with respect to the motor circuit and then the application of the-brake with a consequent stopping of the rotation of the shaft 51 and the clutch member 65.- I

When such clutch member is thus stopped, the momentum of the cylinder continues to rotate-the same, whereupon the said clutch member is disengaged and pushed away from the cylinder by the action of the revolving teeth 67 of the cylinder end 22. After the cylinder is thus released, it is withdrawn from the machine frame by means of the carriage 30. The hoops 23 and Q cylinder ends 22, 22 are then removed from the cylinder permitting the segments there- .of to be separated for removing the casting.

The purpose of having the panels 16 removable from the frame of the cylinder is to give access to the interior of the cylinder when the mold is formed about a pattern of theworln.

The construction of the machine now preferred by me and the operation of the same will be understood from the foregoing description.

- What I claim, is, 1. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination of a rotary cylinder having a metalcharging opening in the peripheral wall thereof, a closure for said opening, supporting means for said cylinder, saidsupporting means being movable transversely of the machine, and releasable power transmission means for rotating the cylinder, said transmission means being movable axially of the machine into and from engaged relation with the cylinder.

2. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination of a rotary cylinder having openings at both ends andadapted to be charged with molten metal through the peripheral wallthereof, said cylinder comprismg two complementary semi-clrcular segments, supporting means for the rotary cylnder, and coupling hoops for uniting the segments of the cylinder, said coupling hoops being held in operative position by the cylinder supporting means.

3. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination with the machine frame, of a rotary cylinder composed of two semi-circular segments, coupling hoops for releasably uniting said segments, a carriage arranged for movement transversely of the machine frame, grooved rollers provided upon said carriage for supporting the cylinder, and grooved rollers depending from the machine frame above the cylinder, the grooves of said rollers serving as guides for the respective coupling hoops and serving to maintain the latter in engaged relation with the cylinder.

4. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination with the machine frame, of a rotary cylinder composed of two SQlHifcllCU- lar segments, coupling hoops for releasably uniting said segments, a carriage arranged for movement transversely of the machine frame, and rollers provided upon said carriage for supporting the cylinder, said rollers serving as guides for the respective coupling hoops and serving to maintainthe latter in engaged relation with the cylinder.

5.. In a'centrifugal casting machine, a rotary cylinder consisting of two complemen- 'tary semi-circular members, each of-said members consisting of a frame and panel-elements provided with marginal flanges, said frame comprising longitudinal and semi-circular transverse elements rigid with each other and arranged to provide openings to receive the respective panel elements, fastening means extending through said flanges into engaged relation with the longitudinal elements of the frame for detachablv securing the panels thereto, and means for separably coupling the complementary members together.

6. In a centrifugal casting machine, a retary cylinder consisting of two complementary semi-circular members, each of said members consisting of a frame and panel elements, said frame comprising longitudinal and semi-circular transverse elements rigid with each other and arranged to provide openings to receive the respective panel elements, fastening means detachably securing the panelsto the frame, and means for separably coupling the complementary members together.v

7. In a centrifugal casting machine, a retary cylinder adapted to contain a lining which serves as the casting mold, saidcylin der and lining being each comprised of two complementary members, the cylinder members contacting with each other at a parting line disposed'in a plane with the cylinder ing a rotary cylinder, the combination with a power driven shaft and the cylinder, of clutch members for coupling the shaft to the cylinder for driving the latter, means provided on, the cylinder for automatically disengaging the clutch when the rotation V of the shaft is being stoppechand manually controlled devices for stopping the rotation of the shaft.

9. In a centrifugal casting machine, the

combination with a rotary cylinder having an opening in. each end thereof, means provided at one end of the cylinder for driving the latter, and a rotary fan actuated by said means to induce a flow of air axially through the cylinder.

10(In a' centrifugal casting machine, the

combinationwith a cylinder, and means for rotatably supporting the same, said supporting means being movable transversely of the machine, of a power driven shaft, complementary clutch members mounted upon the I cylinder and shaft respectively, said clutch members being adapted for engagement with each other when driving the cylinder in one rotary direction only.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 16th day of September 1927. v

. GEORGE vW. DAVIS. 

